chamblog

In my last job (and to a lesser extent, in my current job) I was working with a limited budget and resources.  Therefore I was always on the lookout for good quality, low cost (i.e. free!) software tools.  I found quite a few (and occassionally use them for testing in certain circumstances) and I may post a list on here if there is enough demand.  Today I’m just spreading the word about Spiceworks.  Its curious not only because its a browser-based, network admin tool but because it displays Google ads alongside the application in the browser – and this is how its funded.  I can see larger companies disregarding Spiceworks because they already use Microsoft’s Systems Management Server, or another third party tool, but for SMEs, organisations and charities with smaller budgets I can see a home.  I’m hoping Spiceworks is the first of many Google ad-supported apps we will see (if you’re reading this guys then an easy-install-and-use Intranet would be great!), especially with Ajax and other web2.0 technologies extending what is practical and achievable in a web browser.